Surface ornamentation



Patented Apr. 18, 1939 PATENT OFFICE SURFACE ORNAMENTATION Leo J.Mitchell, Clayton, M0.

N0 Drawing. Application December 23, 1936, Serial No. 117,316

3 Claims.

My invention relates to the ornamentation of surfaces particularly metaland other hard impervious surfaces and it has for its principal objectto provide a surface ornamentation that is highly durable and ofbeautiful appearance, having a highly lustrous finish such as iscommonly associated with electro-plating. The invention consistsprincipally in making durable a finish produced by the application of ametallic powder mixed with a suitable resinous base material and coatedwith a clear cellulose acetate lacquer, by rubbing a halogen salt ofbismuth over the surface and then applying a nitro-cellulose solution orother solution entirely free from ingredients that will attack thecellulose acetate film. The invention further consists in the process ofsurface ornamentation hereinafter described and claimed.

A specific example of my process is the surface ornamentaion of a metalcasket to give it a silver plated finish. First, a pigmentednitro-cellulose primer is applied and then silver powder mixed with asuitable bronzing lacquer or bronzing-varnlsh or other resinous baseliquid is applied to the surface of the casket by means of a spray gunor otherwise, after which a clear transparent cellulose acetate lacqueris applied over the hardened metallic coating. The lacquered surface maybe rubbed or polished, if desired.

A halogen salt of bismuth, for example, bismuth oxychloride is rubbed onthe lacquered surface by means of cotton, chamois or other suitable softmaterial. After the bismuth coating has been rubbed, the surface assumesa highly polished and lustrous appearance, similar to that of silverplating.

In order to protect this lustrous silver appearance, a finish film isapplied consisting entirely of materials that do not attack thecellulose acetate film in any manner. Suitable materials for this finishfilm are nitro-cellulose solution or a varnish solution. Both the liquidand the solid contents of the solution must be such that they will notattack the cellulose acetate film. Instead of the cellulose acetatelacquer, a cellulose acetobutyrate lacquer or a polyvinol alcoholsolution may be used. A nitro-cellulose lacquer may also be used inwhich case the protective coating will be a varnish base liquid or asynthetic resin solution.

In order to produce other plated effects, other metallic powders, asordinary bronze, aluminum powder or gold bronze powder may be used.Likewise, various halogen salts of bismuth may be used to vary theappearance. The above described coating is of a highly lustrousappearance and it is quite durable.

What I claim is:

1. The process of ornamenting surfaces which comprises applying theretoa metallic powder mixed with a suitable bronzing liquid and allowing toharden, applying a coating of clear nitrocellulose lacquer, rubbing acoating of a halogen salt of bismuth on said lacquered surface afterhardening thereof, and then applying a protective coating film free fromingredients that would attack said nitro-cellulose film.

2. The process of ornamenting metal surfaces which comprises applyingthereto a metallic powder mixed with a bronzing liquid and allowing toharden, applying a coating of clear nitro-cellulose lacquer, rubbing acoating of a halogen salt of bismuth on said lacquered surface afterhardening thereof and then applying a protective coating comprisingeither of the group consisting of varnish base liquid and syntheticresin solution.

3. The process of ornamenting metal surfaces which comprises applyingthereto. a metallic powder mixed with a bronzing liquid and allowing toharden, applying a coating of clear nitro-cellulose lacquer, rubbing acoating of a halogen salt of bismuth on said lacquered surface afterhardening thereof and then applying a protective coating of varnish baseliquid.

LEO J. MITCHELL.

